Resilient wheel.



No. 834.106. PATENTED OCT; 23;, 1906.

T. W; BROOMELL.

RESILIENT WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28. 1906.

v WITNESSES, INV'ENTOR,

.Aofiw' T/W/Wa WBHwmd/ Arm/x704 I To all whom it may concern.-

-at Watertown, in the UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' THOMAS BROOME LL, OF WATERTOW'N, N EVV YORK. RESiI IENT WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application 5155 Novena 22,1905. Serial No. 289.487.

Beit known that I, THOMAS W. BROOM- ELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing county of J efl'erson an State of New York, have invented certain new arid useful Improvements in Resilient tion.

- resilient Wheels, of which the following is aspecificav This invention relates to improvements in resilient wheels designed'for use in connection with automobiles, carriages, and the like; and the invention relates particularly to a wheel wherein the resilient or elastic parts are applied-to the center or hub field instead of bein'grdispose'd at or near the rim of the wheel.

he object of the invention is to provide a wheel the construction of which is simple-and inexpensive and wherein the several parts comprising 111 improvement are more durable and less lia le to become damagpd or impaired while in service than other w eelsoft eclass. An important feature of the invention conists in providing a series of springs, preferably arrangedin pairs, comprising oneright and one. le t handed coil, each pair inclosed in a telescoping spring-box, and disposing them around the axle and wheel-hub of a vehicle, by means of which resilience or, flexibility is imparted to the vehicle while in motion, thus leaving the outer rimor edge of the wheel free for the employment of a solid elas-' I tic rubber or a metallic tire, thereby obviating the danger and annoyance of having the tires punctured ortorn, as inv the case where pneumatic tires or like parts are employed.

. Other features and parts of the invention will be readily understood b reference to the accompanying drawings, w 'ch form a part of this specification, and in which- Fi ure 1 is a view of the central portion of a veflxicle wheel, partly in elevation and partly in section, having the outer dust-plate ,removed, showing the resilient parts'and the manner of constructin and appl 'ng' them. Fi 2 is a longitudina section t rough the hi) of the wheel, showing the axle, the inner and outer hub parts, also showing the springboxes and the means for driving the yielding outer. hub to attached. Fig. 3 is a view of the wheel similarto Fig. 1, but omitting the spokes, show-.

ing the diately obstruction'or dropped from a higher "to a lower plane, also showing the relative posiposition of the resilient parts-immewheel.

which the-spokes and tire are after the wheel has encountered an tion of the spring-boxes on the rear side off Fig." 4 is an end view of, the inner hub, showing the annular flange which fits and plays-in the recess between the two outer hub parts, also showing the U-shaped'openings or slots in said flange, which form apart of the driving means for the interfitting hubs. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the inner hub. F ig. 6 is an enlarged end view of one of the telescoping spring-boxes.

Sinular numbers of reference are applied .to corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

2 represents my resilient wheel, preferably vehicles, but which may be emplo ed with slight modifications on any-form 0' vehicle.

3 represents the axle or shaft and is intended to be made of metal and constructed in the usual form.

4 is the inner hub, preferably made of cast metal and having a keyway to receive the key 5.". The wheel shown in the drawings represents .one of the rear or power-driven w 7 1 designed for use in connec ion with motor- 7 eels of a motor-vehicle, the axle of which rotates withthe wheel, and for that reason I have. shown the keyway and key referred to I and also the pin 6, which secures the'inner hub to the axle. Each end of the inner hub 4 is provided with the enlarged cylindrical portion -8, and at'its center it is provided with alarge annular flange 9, having the slots oropenings 10, which are formed positeed es thereof.

11 an 12 represent the..two parts which com rise the outer hub. These are centrally divid flanges-13 and 13. The parts lland 12 are provided, respectively, with the hollow hexagonal hubs or projections 14 and 14, and these'are disposed so that the six face sides of the 'hub 14 have the same plane as the oints or angles, of the rear hub 14, as shown y the dotted lines in Fig.3. 15 and 15 are the lugs or projections around the rims of the outer hub arts 11 and 12 and are for use in attaching the spokes 16 and 16. The draw ings show a wheel with twelve spokes, six of which are secured to the lugs 15-0n the face side of the wheel and six secured to lugs 15 on the rear face of the wheel. :If desired, any even number of s okes may be applied to my wheel. The bo ts 17 serve the. ouble purpose of securing the spokes in posltion and also of clamping toget er the flanges 13 in the oped and bolted together by means of the and 13, as shown in Fig. 2, Ashallow annuv lar recess is formed in the flanges 13 and 13 of the hub parts 11 and 12, and when the latter parts are bolted together,;. as described, they form one large recess 18 with plane parallel sides, in which the central flange 9 ofthe inner hub fits and plays. of the flange 9 and the recess 18 is to maintain the'plane of the wheel intrue rectangular relation to the axle 3, upon which the inner hub 4 is secured during their relative movements. The saidfiange also serves a useful pur ose in case the s ring boxes should col apse by the brea 'ng of the springs by-taking a bearing at the bottom of recess 18, thus saving the wheel from breaking down and enabling the occupant of the vehicle to drive it home.

19 represents a pair of small rollers which are disposed in the slots of the central flange 9. These rollers are mounted loosely upon the pins or axles 20 and turn freely thereon.

The pins 20 are threaded at one end into the outer hub part 12, the other end fitting into the hole or socket 21 formed in the outer hub part 11. I have found this arrangement of the'pins necessary in order to facilitate assembling of. the parts.

22 represents'an annular flanged extension cast orformed with the outer hub part 12 for use in braking the vehicle and wheel. I

' have not shown the other parts of the brake appliance; but the part 22 is intended to cooperate With the well-known hub-brake attachments.

23 23 represent a series of spring-boxes,

I have shown six of these boxes on the face and a likenumbe'r are disposed on stare rear side of the wheel, the latter being staggered with reference to those on the face side in'such manner that the spring-boxes on both sides divide the wheel center into twelve equal spaces. The dotted lines 23 in Fig. 3 show therelative osition of one of the rear spring-boxes. ach spring-box comprises the socket or casing 24, which is secured to the hollow hexagonal parts 14 and 14 of the outer hub parts 11 and 12 by means of the threadedportions' 25, and in order to tighten the sockets 24 securely I have provided thereon the hexagonal nut-like'portions 26 for use in a plying a wrench.

27 represents t e telescoping thirnble, which fits and laysin the socket 24 of each box. These tl ziimble's are made hollow to receive :the springs 28 and 29, which exert The object The spring 28 is preferably coiled righthanded and of a diameter to fit loosely in the thimble 27. The ends are made level so as to bear evenly a ainst the closed ends of the thimbles and soc ets. The spring 29 is preferably coiled left-handed an is made lrom a smaller gageof wire and just large enough to operably fit inside the spring 28. These springs are of equal length and when properly made and tempered may be adjusted to yield any desired degree of resilience. It

-wouldscarcely be possible to make so large a series of springs and have them all of equal strength and flexibility or to set or incase them so that their tension might not require varying to suit different conditions. Hence I have provided an adjustable part 30, which is threaded into the outer closed end of the socket 24, and near its inner end I have rovided an annular flange 31 large enoug to afford a bearing for both of the springs. Below this flange occurs the central projecting part 32, which loosely fits the opening in spring 29. The purpose of this latter part is to keep the springs in line and prevent them from shifting about in the outer end of socket 24. The outer hexagonal projection 33 is for applying a wrench to effect the adjustment of the springs.

34 is a jam-nut for use in holding the part 30 in any desired position.

The outer face side of the wheel-hub is provided with the annular dust-cap or disk 35, secured to the part 11 of the outer hub by means of the threads at 36. When this plate. or cap is thus applied, the hollow space between the outer and inner hubs is sealed against the admission of dust or dirt. Dustcap 35 may be screwed into outer hub by hand and then tightened u by means of a wrench applied to the nut-li e projection 37,

formed u on the central part of the cap, as

shown in *ig. 2., s

In order toprevent dust or dirt from entering .the interior of the hub from the rear side of the wheel, I have provided the ring or annular plate 38, which overlaps the flan ed collar 40, by means of which the space etween the axle 3 and the brake-hub 22 is closed. The ring or plate 38 is made to fit into the hollow side of part 22, and it is secured to the outer hub art 12 by the screws 39, as shown in Fig. 2. his ring or plate has a central opening circular in form, which is considerably larger than the diameter of the axle, and thus allows the axle to be moved or thrown off center in any direction for a distance equal to the flexing of the springs and thimbles. The flanged collar 40 is intended to be made -to fill the space between the ring 38 and the end of inner hub 4 and form a tight joint where it bears or slides against said ring. The flange of part 40 is larger in diameter than the central 0 ening in ring 38 and is so arranged that it sli es upon said ring, wherebv motor or other source is dust and dirt are effectually excluded from the interior of the hub, while the requisite play is' permitted at all-times during the vari-' able movements of the axle or wheel.

The driving means-between the outer and inner hubs as explained above consists of a pair of rollers 19, mounted upon the pins 20 ield in place b the outer hub parts 11 and Theserol ers are afforded considerable play in the l J-shaped slots or notches 10, which are formed in the central flange 9 of the inner hub. When the ower from the a phed to axle 3, the inner hub 4 being secured to said axle is also driven thereby. The powerthus applied is communicated to the rollers 19 when the vehicle is moving either forward or backward by'the engagement of the strai ht edges of notches 10 with said rollers, as shown in Fig. .4 of the drawings. These notches or slots are made considerably wider than the diameter of therollers, so as to allow a slight yielding' as between the inner and outer hubs at times,;when the wheel strikes obstructions or uneven spots in the roadway. The slots 10 are made deep enough to allow the rollers to travel back and forth toward and from the axle corresponding with the flexing or yieldingof the springs 28and 29 and the variations of the plane of the axle. By providing two rollers and disposing them as shown herein there will be no interval, however short, during the movement of the vehicle in either direction,-inwhich both of the rollers 19 will be out ofzengagement with the sides or edges of the slots 10. Where only one roller is employed, unless the roadway is very smooth the roller will frequently break contact with the edge of the slot, es ecially when the wheel recoils on account of shocks received, and the effect is to give a 'erky sensation to the occu-.

other respects the wheel will be the same, e'x cept that ball-bearings may be applied to the front wheels where none are shown on the rear or driven axle. Any form of solid tires may be employed on the rims of wheels ,hav-

ing the resilient hub" construction shown 1 herein.

Obviously the detail construction of the 6 parts herein shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

.' '1. In a vehicle-wheel, a hollow outer hub,

a central. inner hub, an axlesecured tosaid inner hub, a series of telescoping springboxes attached to the hollow outer hub, a pair of right and left hand coiled springs incascd in each of said s ring-boxes, an annular recess in said outerliub, a central flange formed on said inner hubadapte'd to fit and play in said recess, Usha (1 slots in said centra flange, a pair of rol ers mounted in said recess adapted to 006 erate with said U-.

shaped slots to effect t e ositive driving of sai outer hub, substantia y as described. 2. In a resilient wheel a two-part hollow outer hub, a one-part inner hub, an axlesein said outer hub at right angles to said axle,

a pair of driving-rollers operably mounted .within said recess, a central flange on said inner hub adapted to fit and pla in said re- .cess, a pair of oppositely-forms slots in said flange-adapted to engage said rollers and thereby effect the driving'of said outer hub, and a flanged projection on said outer hub for use in braking said wheel, substantially as described.

3. A resilient wheel for motor; vehicles, comprising a two-part outer hub, a one-partinner hub," acentral recess in said outer-I ub, a central flange on said inner hub adapted to fit and play in said recess, a series of slots or,

openin in said flange, a series of rollers operative y mounted in said recess adapted to form a yielding frictionless driving connection between said outer and inner hubs, a series of s ring-boxes secured to each of said outer hu arts, a' telescoping thimble fitting each of said spring-boxes, a pair of reverselycoiled springs in each of .-said s ri -boxes and thimbles, and means for a justing the tension of said springs, substantially as described.

4. A resilientwheel for motor-vehicles, comprising a hollow outer hub in two parts,

, "an inner hub in one part, an axle secured to said inner hub, an annular recess between the abutting sides of said outer hub parts, a flange on said inner hub,- oppositely-fad slots in said flange, rollers mounted in sai recess in position to .eng e said slots, springboxes mounted upon boii parts of said outer hub, reversely-coiled sprin s in said spri boxes, telescopin thimbles fitting e531 p -box adapted to be forced or held out-' of said springs, thereby formi aresilient connection between the outer an inner hubs,-

substantiall asdescribed.

5, A resi ient wheel for motor-vehicles,

' com rising a. hollow outer hub, a central inner ub secured to the axle of a vehicle, a

s ward y against said inner hubby the tension central flange on said inner hub, slots in said flange, a recess in said outer hub, rollers in. said recess adapted to engage said slots andthereby effect the driving said outer hub, spring-boxes secured to said outer hub, a pair of reversely-coiled springs in each springboX, a thimble fitting and playing in each spring-box and also bearing against said-inner hub, a dust-cap secured to the face of the outer hub, a dust-ring, and a flanged collar to exclude dust from the rear of said hubs, substantially as described.

6. A wheel for motor-vehicles, comprising in said annular recess in position to engage and lay in said slots, and means for excluding ust and dirt from the interior of said hubs, substantially as described.

7. In a vehicle-wheel, a hollow outer hub,a

centralinner hub, an axle for said inner 'hub,

spring-receiving boxes attached to one i' said hubs, springs in said boxes, a flange on one of said hubs fitting in 'a recess in the other hub and formed with slots, and rollers connected to one of the hubs and fitting in the slots of said flange for-transmitting movement from one hub. to the other, substantially as described. I 4

a 8. In a vehicle-wheel, a hollow outer bub, a central inner hub, a flange on one of said hubs fitting in a recess in the other hub and formed with slots, and rollers connected to one of the hubs and fitting in the slots of said flange, said rollers normally bearing against one wall of the slots in which they respectivel fit and having a lateral lay therein, t e walls against which the rollers bear being on oppositely-dis osed sides of the rollers-so that one roller will always be in bearing contact with one wall of its slot, substantially as described.

9. In a vehicle-wheel, a'hollow outer hub, a central inner hub, a flange on one of said hubs fitting in a recess in the other hub and formed with slots, and rollers connected to flange and capable of movement therein to- THOMAS W. BROO MEL L v Witnesses.

EDGAR V. BLOODOUGH, HARRY DE WALLACE.

ward and from the axis of the wheel and one of the hubs and fitting inthe slots of said 

